Nikita can't wait till Valentine's Day.
Michael is carrying Nikita's Valentine's Day gift with him.
Both are counting the hours until they finally see each other.
But both forget what the day before Valentine's Day is.

***************

Nikita rolled over holding her eyes from the bright light in her room. She glances at the green numbers on the clock.

"Go away...it's twelve-thirdy!" Nikita moans as she puts a pillow over her head, trying to block out the light.

"You are breaking curfew, and are going to suffer severe punishments for this torture of my sleep!" Nikita mutters through the pillow.

"You're leaving on a mission." Madeline's voice rings out clearly and Nikita immediately sits up and throws the pillow at Madeline. Nikita slumps her head down and moans.

"Madeline!" Nikita says with a pound of her fists on the bed.

"It is extremely difficult, and you will be pasted through several Section contacts, you appearance will be altered with each one." Madeline says firmly as she looks at Nikita.

"I'm going to miss Valentine's Day with Michael, aren't I?" Nikita blankly asks Madeline. Madeline blinks her eyes and Nikita throws another pillow at her.

"Why isn't someone else doing this?" Nikita asks in a soft moan as she starts pulling her hair up in a ponytail.

"You are the best woman we have, plus we can change your appearance fairly easy." Madeline says as she hands Nikita a garmet bag.

"Hey, I have this outfit already!" Nikita half smiles as she pulls out the large flannel shirt and jeans. She quickly changes and walks out into the hall.

"I'm sorry about your plans, Nikita." Madeline says softly as they start walking down the empty halls of the retreat.

"Yeah, so what else is with this mission?" Nikita asks as she steps up the pace.

"I can't disclose as of yet. When you finally meet the contact, and you'll know when, Then you'll recieve final intel."

Madeline says.

"Can I call Michael?" Nikita asks.

"He is on a mission." Madeline says blankly, but internally smiling.

***************

(earlier)

Michael is softly jogging out of Section, knowing if he left before dinnertime, he could be in Nikita's arms before Valentine's Day started. He patted his jacket, checking to see if Nikita's gift was there. He feels it, and continues.

"Michael!" Madeline calls out from down the hall. Michael stops and bites his lip, wishing he had left two minutes sooner.

"We have an important mission for you." Madeline says softly.

"I haven't had a mission in weeks, and now there is one!" Michael says angerily. Madeline sits back and hands him a paper.

"This is like a hunt for buried treasure!" Michael says looking at the list.

"I know. But you must follow this, or you put our contact into danger." Madeline says.

"Can I at least call Nikita?" Michael says softly.

"Sorry, she has the couples sleeping in the outdoors tonight. She won't be near a phone until morning." Madeline says.

Michael turns back around and head to his office, to prepare for the mission.

Madeline watches Michael and then runs out of Section, heading to Nikita.

-------------------------------------------------

Madeline watches Nikita trudge out to the waiting van and she walks to Walter's room. Walter opens the door and Madeline walks in.

"Why all the secrets?" Walter asks softly.

"Because, Operations was going to send them on different missions in the morning. Therefore, both of these appear to be legit missions." Madeline explains as she sits down.

"Operations is going to be anger about this one." Walter comments as he looks at Madeline.

"He'll get over it." Madeline says shaking her head.

"But will you?" Walter asks. Madeline looks up with tears in her eyes. Walter sits down and lets Madeline cry on his shoulder.

"I had to let them be happy... someone had to..." Madeline mutters.

***************

Nikita sits in the back of the van by herself. SHe leans against the window. She sees a sign for milk, and smiles.

-------------------------------------------------

"Milk does your body good!" Michael says as he drinks a tall glass of milk in one gulp. Nikita sits on the kitchen counter, swinging her legs.

"I won't comment." Nikita says as one of her legs touches Michael's pants zipper. Michael looks down and suddenly blushes with understandment with why Nikita won't mention.

"I never realize how much of a bad girl you were!" Michael says as he moves inbetween Nikita's swinging legs and kisses her softly.

"I never realized how much of a softee you were." Nikita smiles.

"A softee?" Michael chokes as he snorts a laugh. Nikita sits up straight.

"Yes a softee!" Nikita smiles back at him. Michael opens the refrigerator.

"Time for more milk." Michael says. He pours another large glass of milk and opens another gallon of milk.

Michael steps over to his positon he was standing at before. He lightly kisses Nikita.

"So, I'm a softee?" Michael asks Nikita again. Nikita runs her hands on his chest.

"An emotional softee!" Nikita teases. Michael slowly pours the entire glass of milk down Nikita's hair. Nikita screams in utter shock.

Michael leans his head down and starts to lick the milk off of Nikita's dripping forehead and starting to rub Nikita's shoulders. Nikita giggles and pulls over the gallon of milk. Slowly she drizzles some over Michael's redish locks.

-------------------------------------------------

Michael looks away from the milk ad. The memory was too vivid. He leaned his head back on the wall of the car, which his first operative was driving him to drop off point A. He sighs softly and turns up the oldies music.

***************

Nikita kicks the stone infront of her as she exits the building in the midafternoon light.

Nikita scratches back of her head. The long black wig, is longer than her real hair.

She walks in the tennis shoes, watching people stare at her. Nikita sucks the breath in as she tries to remember, all she has to do is walk five blocks and into another building for yet, another change.

Michael is walking up the street, wearing a baseball cap over fake bald head. They even put a beerbelly on him. Michael walks with an intense angry frown on his face as he tries to make it the next five blocks as quickly as possible.

He looks at head and sees a pregnant woman with long black hair. Michael thinks to himself that the hair is longer than Nikita's.

Nikita mutters to herself that she is going to kill Madeline for this one. The pregnant belly is so ichy on her skin, and so painful. Nikita puts a hand on her aching back. After the hours of switching from van to car to motorcycle, and from short blonde hair, long red hair, and punkie pink hair, and from tomboy, to working class girl, to a man... Nikita's back is killing her.

Michael looks at the lady holding her back. Michael walks closer to the edge of the sidewalk, incase the very pregnant woman was too close to actually being a mother. Michael is staring at the woman as she turns her face to him. Michael shakes his head and looks away. Michael sighs as he internally laughs at the fact that for an instant he thought that that woman was Nikita.

Nikita looks away from the bald, beerbellied man, and is shocked. For some reason, he reminded her of Michael. Nikita turns and enters the building.

She opens the apartment and another operative stands inside. She sighs in relief as she pulls off the pregnant belly, and sees the next outfit is just a knee-length black skirt and a blue sweater. And a bonus, no wig!

-------------------------------------------------

"Madeline, they passed on the walk to the buildings, just as you planned." Birkoff says softly as Madeline is solemnly walking to Operation's office.

"Good. Keep me posted." Madeline says as her tired eyes try to stay focused.

Madeline opens the door and sees a pacing Operations in front of her.

"What is it?" Madeline asks as she sits down. Operations leans down into her face.

"Why are both Michael and Nikita out on separate missions?" Operations growls. Madeline shrugs her shoulders.

"I needed them to do these!" Operations says as he throws two folders at Madeline.

"These are separate too." Madeline says. "And they are going to miss their holiday meeting either way."

"What, Friday the 13th?" Operations asks. Madeline stands up and walks to the door.

"Maybe if you remembered what month it was you'd have a clue! Try Valentine's Day!" Madeline says sternly and shuts the door behind her.

***************

Lyric from "Somewhere in the Night" from the Quantum Leap soundtrack

Nikita leans against yet another van's window. The sky has darkened again. Her eyes are tired and heavy, but thoughts of Michael are keeping her eyes open.

Suddenly, Nikita regrets everything that she has done. She regrets making a truce with Operations, regrets taking the job at the retreat, regrets not saying goodbye to Michael, and regrets everything else she has done.

"I should have never feel in love. Madeline is right, love has no place in Section. Look at what is happening here... all I can think about is Michael when, this important mission has me moving about like a fugitive." Nikita thinks to herself, and she sighs and turns on the radio.

ON THE DAY I WALKED AWAY...
ALL THE BLUE ROLLED INTO GRAY...

Michael drives the small beaten up car down the highway, but each light reminds him of Nikita.

"Each light is like her smile." Michael thinks to himself. He can easily recall her smiles at different times. The smile she gave him when he asked her if he could paint her. The smile she gave him when she saw the padded couch. The smile that Michael had missed so much in the time that Nikita had been gone.

Michael drives his thoughts away from Nikita and listens to the music.

NOW IN THE DARK, ALONE I LAY...
SHOULD OF STOPPED, BUT I COULD NEVER EVER STAY...

Nikita leans back on the bench and shutters. She easily remembers when she was shot. She recalls, making Michael tend to everyone else but her. The feelings overwhelm her, and especially the one of before she fell from consciousness. Never in her entire life did she feel that she was so sure she was going to die, and the only thing that matter, was that Michael knew she loved him.

SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT...
INSIDE MY DREAMS YOU BURN SO BRIGHT...
AND I'M WITH YOU THERE WHERE EVERYTHING IS ALL RIGHT...
SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT...
BEFORE THE DARKNESS TURNS TO LIGHT...
LET ME LOVE YOU THERE SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT...

Michael looks ahead at the mountain of darkness, at least, he believes it to be a mountain. He wonders if Nikita is looking at the same darkness. Michael slightly smiles as he realizes the darkness means something totally different than before he was allowed to live day after day with Nikita. Her presence had totally changed him, and he no longer could identify with the Michael that hurt Nikita so.

SECOND CHANCES I WON'T GET...
WOULDN'T CARE TO HOLD AND YET...
EVERYWHERE I TURN I SEE YOUR SILOUTTE...
SO LONG, BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET...

Niktia smiles as she sees the passing pizza shop. The light blaze brightly. She easily remember when her, Michael, Birkoff, and Walter ate the "Everything" pizza at Lucina's. Some of the toppings were, not what you'd expect, but somehow, Michael ate slowly. Then he dropped the entire piece in his lap.

Nikita slowly smiles at the memory.

SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT...
INSIDE MY DREAMS YOU BURN SO BRIGHT...
AND I'M WITH YOU THERE WHEN EVERYTHING IS ALL RIGHT...
SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT...
BEFORE THE DARKNESS TURNS TO LIGHT...
LET ME LOVE YOU THERE SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT...

"Nikita..." Michael sighs outloud.

TIME AFTER TIME I FIND OUT I'M THINGING ABOUT YOU...
UPON THE HILL, SEE YOU STILL, BUT I JUST CAN'T REACH...

"Michael..." Nikita sighs as she slides down the seat, about to go to sleep.

WHO WOULD ANSWER YOUR PRAYER...
WHO WOULD WAIT BY THE STANDS...
NOT ME..... NOT ME....

Michael pulls the car over and switches places with the passenger. Exactly like orders said. Michael sits down at the passenger side, hoping to dream of Nikita. He looks up at the shimmering black sky.

SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT...
INSIDE MY DREAMS YOU BURN SO BRIGHT...
AND I'M WITH YOU THERE WHERE EVERYTHING IS ALL RIGHT...

The black van passes the car as it pulls back out on the road. Michael doesn't notice as he stares out the window.

SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT...
BEFORE THE DARKNESS TURNS TO LIGHT...

Nikita stares out the window.

LET ME SEE YOUR FACE... FEEL YOUR WARM EMBRACE..

"I love you..." Both mutter as they close their eyes.

LET ME LOVE YOU...
SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT...

***************

Nikita smoothed the short red hair wig over her own hair. How she longed to let her hair down and shake it over her shoulders.

The rest of the outfit was almost standard. A black mini-skirt and a low cut, tight form fitting glittering silver shirt.

"Madeline says you can go up now... room 7b." The operative says as she opens the door. Nikita leaves the unpleasant woman and walks up the stair case a set of stairs. She enters to hall and notices a man a couple doors away.

Michael knocks at the door and looks down the hall briefly. He shakes his head again. All day, he believed that all the woman were Nikita. Again, his mind was playing game with his head.

"Birkoff!" Michael says in surprize as Birkoff opens the door. Michael walks in, and looks for the contact.

"Where is the contact?" Michael asks. Birkoff points to a door.

"In the adjoining room." Birkoff says.

Nikita opens the hotel door and almost jumps back as Madeline sits at the couch. Nikita shuts the door and stares at Madeline.

"Where is this contact?" Nikita says.

"Follow me." Madeline says.

Michael is looking at Birkoff as he backs up into the adjoining room. Suddenly he hears a door slam shut, and before he can turn to see what happened, Birkoff slams and locks the door on Michael's face.

Nikita stands in shock as she hears another door close behind her. She places a hand on the wall, not really wanting to turn her back.

Birkoff runs out into the hall and meets Madeline. "Let's get out of here!" Birkoff says with a smile.

"They are going to get us for this one!" Madeline says.

Nikita is still facing the door.

"It is now 11:55, in five minutes you will turn around. At 12:01, you will know each other." Madeline's taped voice is heard in the room. Nikita bows her head and waits for the five minutes to pass, wondering who is behind her.

Michael stares at the door, and against his better judgement, doesn't turn back around. He follows directions and stares at the door, wishing Nikita was there to make him laugh about the entire thing.

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